Hairpin



Sept. 12, 1939. J, w REYNOLDS 2,172,852

HAIRPIN I Filed Jan. 18, 1939 INVENTOR. James lMReyno/ds,

ATTORN EY Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to hair pins, such as hair pins made of wire or equivalent material, and having humps or crinkled portions along opposite sides of the pin for engagement with the hair, for preventing it from becoming accidentally withdrawn from the hair.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improved design of pin including the bow or spring portion at the closed end of the pin, and also of the outline of the humped or crinkled portions for insuring greater efficiency in the holding action of the pin.

With this general object in View, the invention will now be described with reference to the ac- 1Q ,companying drawing, illustrating a construction W appropriate for embodying the proposed improvement, after which such features and combinations as deemed to be novel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing- Figures 1 and 2 are plan views, showing difierent types of hair pins embodying the improved features of construction;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a slight modification of the form illustrated in Figure 2;

and

Figures 4 and 5 are plan views showing still other modified types of the improved pin.

The usual types of hair pins, such as are constructed of wire material, appear to be defective as regards having eificient holding properties, since the design of the spring-bow portion with relation to the humped or crinkled side portions, does not stand the strain imposed upon the pin, but either becomes distorted on being pinned to the hair, or does not exert a sufiicient gripping action upon the hair to retain the pin in place.

From my study and observation of the prevailing construction and its use, it is my belief that the objections referred to are due to faulty design of the spring-bow portion of the pin, and to the fact that the outline or pattern of the humped or crinkled portion of the pin is not properly adapted to maintain gripping engagement with the hair when the pin is inserted into engagement therewith.

For overcoming the defects referred to, I have devised a form of construction in which the spring-bow portion is specially designed to permit proper spreading of the arms of the pin, when thrust into the position for use, and at the same time not become distorted in such a way as to cause the pin to lose its gripping function when engaged with the hair.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figure l, the pin is illustrated as being constructed of the usual spring-wire material of appropriate gauge, and bent to form a springbow portion at the closed end of the pin, as indi cated at It, and the sides I2 of this closed end or spring-bow portion are made to diverge slightly in the direction of the other end of the pin.

At its widest portion representing the points where the humped or crinkled portions of the pin begin, the wire is appropriately crimped to form a succession of humps I4. The two crinkled sections are specially designed to converge toward each other, in the direction of the open end of the pin.

The pin ends in straight sections I 5 of approximately the same length as the crinkled sections, and these straight end sections are formed as continuations of the wire from the widest part of the last humps or crimps I4, thereby leaving the end portions I5 in slightly spaced relation, prior to the use of the pin. That is to say, the end portions remain slightly spaced apart in the normal condition of the pin.

In the use of the pin, the particular design of the bow portion I0 and diverging side portion I2 allows an easy and yet spring-like action of the two sides of the pin when inserting it into the hair and at the same time retains such springlike action, since the bow is not distorted in use, as in the case of the'usual plain type of pin having its side portions extending in regular straight lines without a portion of the bow being formed wider than the crinkled side portions, and the latter not extending in more or less converging relation as herein shown. Furthermore, in the use of the pin, it will be apparent that the converging crinkled sections I l may be spread until the said sections I4 are in general almost parallel with each other, which movement is readily permitted by the spring-bow portion without any undue strain upon the bow and the construction of the crinkled sides 54 is such as (when released) to spring into secure gripping engagement with the hair, under the spring action which is exerted by said bow portion. From this it will be understood that the tendency of the crinkled side sections I 4 is to spring. back into the original converging relation, for gripping the hair; and obviously this converging relation which. the section I 4 tends to reassume, under the action of the spring-bow II], is just that relation which is most effective for causing the, pin to retain its gripping engagement with the hair.

The only diiference in the design illustrated in Figure 2 is the construction of the crinkled and end portions with a slightly greater degree of convergence bringing the points or ends together, which affords a quicker spring action for closing the ends of the pin than in the case of the slightly spaced end points as shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 3 the design shown is similar to that illustrated in Figure 2, but is of generally curved contour, for conforming to the shape or contour of the head, which is desirable for certain types of the pin.

In Figure 4, a modified form of pin is shown having the bow portion 10 and the arms of generally converging form and with the ends or points substantially in contact. The bow portion comprises diverging sides [2 and opposite humps or crimps M, from which the arms extend as straight converging side portions l8 to a pair of humps 20 which either touch lightly together or may be slightly out of contact with each other. From these humps or crimps 28 the end portions I5 converge into substantial contact at the end of the pin, as in the modification shown in Figure 2. In some cases it may be desirable toprovide slight serrations 2!, or the like, part way down the insideof the end portions i 5' from the humps 20 towards the end of the pin, for gripping enfgagement with the hair.

In Figure 5, the construction shown is similar to the other types as regards the bow portion In and its diverging sides l2, while the remainder of the pin comprises the converging sides 15 without any crimps or humps, as in the other types of the pin; as shown in Figure 5, the ends of the sides l2 connect with the main side portions l5" of the pin through the converging or constricted sections l6, and from these sections IS the sides I5 are shown as converging uniformly and into contact at the point of the pin. While thesesides [5" are shown straigh, it is of course obvious that a series of humps or crinkles may be provided on either or both of the sides l5", and also that serrations 2! as indicated at 2| in Figure 4 may be provided on either or both of the sides or arms l5 of the pin, as may be desirable in some cases. Since the main object of the type shown in Figure 5 is to provide a pin which may be quickly and effectively inserted in position, the provision of the humps or serrations is not deemed so essential as in the other types, although such provision may be made to any extent desired, as just indicated.

The improved construction serves to hold the hair (eitherlong or short hair) more efficiently, and is also an excellent pin for the same uses as the so-called bobby pin (for holding bobs and fine curls as they are groomed), but is much more easily inserted into the hair and also lighter and less expensive.

I have therefore, I believe, devised a pin having much more efficient properties as regards gripping the hair and being held more securely vin place, and the construction is such as to withstand long usage without the pin becoming distorted, and losing its gripping power, which is one of the most common objections to the conventional hair pin construction.

'It will of course be understood that the improved hair pin can be made of any appropriate material, and also obviously in any desired size; furthermore, that any desired number of the humps M can be embraced within the crinkled sections of the pin, according to the size of the pin or the preferences of the manufacturer; and also that the sides or arms of the pin may be provided with either humps 14 or serrations 2| along only a portion thereof, or one side or arm left entirely plain or without any humps or serrations.

These humps may also be located opposite each other, as illustrated, or in staggered or zigzag relation, as part of the same general design. It may also be desirable in some cases not only to locate the ends or points of the pin in contact With each other, but even to bring them into overlapping relation across each other, for effecting a tighter hold on the hair. The degree of angle or convergence of the arms of the pin is also adapted to be varied, so that the arms may be spaced apart wider or closer together at various points along said arms, so that they may be in converging relation at some points and more or less parallel at other places, without departing materially from the scope of my invention.

It may also be pointed out that any of the types of pin shown may be bowed, or curved, as represented in Figure 3, or that any one of the types may be bowed for only a portion of its length, and still be comprised within the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, while I have illustrated practical embodiments of my proposed improvement, I desire to reserve the right to make Whatever changes may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wire type hair pin comprising a spring bow portion having diverging sides, and crinkled or humped side portions forming continuations of said diverging sides of the bow portion, said crinkled side portions converging toward the open end of the pin.

2. A wire type hair pin comprising a springbow portion having diverging sides, and crinkled or humped side portions forming continuations of said diverging sides of the bow portion, said crinkled side portions converging toward the open end of the pin and terminating in plain wire portions converging substantially into contact with each other at the end of the pin.

3. A wire type hair pin comprising a springbow portion having diverging sides, and crinkled or humped side portions forming continuations of said diverging sides of the bow portion, said crinkled side portions converging toward the open end of the pin, the side portions of the pin being curved for conforming approximately to the shape or curvature of the head.

4. A wire type hair pin comprising a springbow portion having diverging sides, and crinkled or humped side portions forming continuations of said diverging sides of the bow portion, said crinkled side portions converging to bring the last pair of opposite humps almost but not quite together, the remaining end portions of the pin converging substantially into contact with each other at the end of the pin.

5. A wire type hair pin comprising a springbow portion having diverging sides, and crinkled or humped side portions forming continuations of said diverging sides of the bow portion, said crinkled side portions converging to bring the opposite closest humps almost but not quite together, the remaining end portions of the pin forming continuations of the widest portions of said closest humps and extending in converging relation to the open end of the pin.

6. A wire type hair pin comprising a springbow portion having diverging sides, and crinkled or humped side portions forming continuations of said diverging sides of the bow portion, said crinkled side portions converging toward the open end of the pin, and one of the end portions of the pin having serrations adapted for retaining engagement with the hair.

7. A wire type hair pin comprising a spring- 10 bow portion having diverging sides, and crinkled or humped side portions forming continuations of said diverging sides of the bow portion, said crinkled side portions converging toward the open end of the pin and terminating in plain wire portions converging substantially into contact with each other at the end of the pin, and a part of the end portions of the pin having serrations adapted for retaining e'ngagementwith the hair.

JAMES W. REYNOLDS. 

